Andy Murray has humbled world no 1 and tennis legend Roger Federer in the first round of the Dubai Masters.

The Scottish star and already 2 time 2008 tournament winner dished out a tennis masterclass to the Swiss star. In a match that lasted just over two hours and went the full 3 sets, Roger Federer, the world number 1 never managed to gain one single break point against Murray, the British number. Andy eventually Winning 6-7(6) 6-3 6-4.

The first set was a lesson in serving from both players as neither player managed a break point, only game on the Murray serve going to deuce and 4 love service games (2 each). This serving display resulted in these two having there first ever tie break together.

After taking the first break against the serve in the tie break, Murray took a 5-2 lead, he then had chances on both the next two Federer serves points but couldn’t take either. The occasion of playing the world number 1 seemed to get to Murray as he lost his break and Federer leveled at 5-5. Murray went on to get the first set point at 6-5, but Federer showed his class as he won the breaker 8-6.

At the start of the second set, we expected Federer to pile the pressure on Murray and win out in straight sets, but this was a different Murray out there. Where we were expecting a tantrum from Murray, it simply never came. He held serve from the off and never gave up any break points and in the eighth game he produced a series of scintillating points and after 68 minutes the match had it’s first break point. Murray didn’t disappoint and went on to convert it and take a 2 game lead. Murray’s serve didn’t faulter and served out the set convincingly.

In the first game of the third and final set, Murray took a 0-30 lead and then a 15-40, giving him second and third break point of the match. Federer proved his metal here and went on to hold both points and serve out the first game after two deuce’s. When the players came out for the second game and Murray’s first serve, Federer appeared to have physically grown and had only one goal in mind, breaking the Scot and wrapping this match up quickly. After losing out on the previous sets break point, not too many would bet against the Swiss player achieving this. And after 2 points, Murray found himself 0-30 down and for the first time Murray looked like he could lose his serve.

Like I said above though, this was a different Murray out here and in an almost “Federer-like” display Murray rallied and won the next 3 points displaying almost no emotion. The Scot then went on to hold his serve. After another round of serves each it was still Federer who looked the more likely to break.

5th game and enter an even cooler Andy Murray. He races to a 0-40 lead and then on the next point Federer’s second serve was called long. Hawk-Eye though says it was in so Federer gets another chance to save the three break points. Murray is simply too good and breaks the 5 time Wimbledon champion and World number for last 4 years to love.

After that Murray never looked back and Federer never got a sniff on the Murray serve and it was the Scot who looked more likely to break again. The star from Dunblane in Scotland finishes off Federer with service winner down the middle.

This will go down as one of Murray’s greatest wins and is another sign in the shift of power in the Men’s game. Federer was the defending champion here and although he is still a huge number of ranking points ahead of the rest, this will bring the chasing pack closer to him.

This was only Federer’s second tournament of the year, Murray has already won that many tournaments. He is currently on streak of win tournament, 1st loss, win tournament and 1st round loss, So Federer can perhaps console himself that he lost because Murray is destined to win this week if this pattern is to continue.